Filing cabinet



Nov. 12, 1929.

E. J. CARD ET AL FILING CABINET File d Feb. Fif -1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l EARL I g/ARD v VIC TOR AGRONBERG Nov. 12, 1929.

E. J. CARD ET AL FILING CABINET Filed Feb. 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 is man 82 AQ glwvcn o.

EARL J. CARD AND IIIIIIIIIIII I p E. J. CARD ET AL Nov. 12, 1929.

FILING CABINET Filed Feb. 2'7, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet L IIIIfIIIIIIIIIII/I VI 0 TOR A .G RONBERG" E. J. CARD El AL FIL'LNG cABmET Nov.12,' 1929..

Filed Feb. 27, 1926 4 "Sheets-Sheet 4 I EARL JQCARD VICTOR AND A. GRONBERG Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE EARL JAMES CARD AND VICTOR ADOLPI-I GRONBERG, OF J'AMESTOWN, NEW YORK, AS- SIGINORS T JAMESTOWN METAL EQUIZEIVHilhT'J? 00., INQ, 0F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF N E'N YORK FILING CABINET Application filed February '27, 1926. Serial No. 91,177.

This invention relates to an improvement in a filing cabinet, and more particularlyin I cabinets of the metal type, and the manner in which the various parts are assembled. It has beenfound particularlydesirable in the manufacture of metal cabinets to make each cabinet of a'relativcly few elements and to complete and finish each element before the elements are assembled to form the cabinet. I 'i Y The primary object of this invention is to provide a filing cabinet consisting of front, side, rear, top and bottom elements, so formed that the juxtaposed portionsthereof interengage when assembled, all of the elements being thus heldagainstseparation without the use of bolts/rivets, welds or other supplementary fastening means. a

' PX further object of this invention is to pro ings, which form a part thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of the body of a cabinet embodying this invention, certain parts being broken away; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a larger scale 'of the cabinet body and top; j

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2 on a smaller scale,

the suspensions, however, which are omitted from Figure 2, being illustrated;

Fig. 1 is aperspcctive view looking into the cover, parts being broken away; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of oneof the sides;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the back; Fig. 8 is'a perspective view of the bottom; Fig. 9 is aperspective view of the lower cross member forming part of the front frame and connecting the uprights;

vide in a cabinet so made. integral means for rigidly, uniting the parts after asseinbly,:

Fig. 10 illustrates in perspective one of the details of construction;

Fig. llisa perspective view of an upper cross bar that may be used with the type of uprights shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 12 is a detail view in perspective illustrating one way to secure the top in position.

Referring to the drawings, the cabinet 10 wardly upon itself to provide a recess for a purpose to be described later. Each side edge 21 of the back wall is bent to provide vertically extending boxlike channels 22, opening rearwardly and defined by sections 23, 24 and flanges 25. It will be noted that the upper and lower flanges 17 and 19 extend between the sections 23 of the channels 22, andthe ends of the flange 17 are spaced therefrom by notches 26. p

The side walls 141 are flanged at each edge. A flange on the lower edge extends inwardly at right angles to the side wall. The upper edge is bent inwardly and upwardly,

thus providing a right angle section 31 having a horizontal portion 32 and a vertical flange33, see Fig. 3. The front and rear edges of the side walls are returned to provide overhanging flanges 34, 35, which are spaced from and parallel to the walls, and thus provide box-like vertical channels 36, 37. The channels 36 open rearwardly and the side bars forming a part of the front'frame; i Channels Open forwardly so that the Open Fig. 6' is a perspective view of one of the sides face each'other.

Rigidly secured to the inner face ofeach side wall adjacent the rear edge is a vertical channel strip 38, the body portion 39 of which rests against and is fixed to the side wall. The rearflange 40 of the strip 38 is bent rearwardly and inwardly so that it extends across the open face of the channel 37,

and parallel to but spaced from the flange 35, terminating in a section 41 at right angles to the side wall, thus surrounding one-half of said channel. The front flange 42 of the channel strip 38 is bent parallel to the side wall and spaced therefrom the same distance as the flange 34. A Z-shaped strip 43 is secured to the inner face of the side wall adjacent the channel 36. One portion 44 of the strip is spaced from the wall to provide a channel 45, which opens toward the channel 36 for a purpose to be described later. A

vertical channel strip 46, see Fig. 3,. issecured to the inner face of the side wall intermediate the end strips 38 and 43 by means of its flanges 48 and 49, which bear against the wall. The body portion 47 of the strip is spaced from the wall and lies in the same vertical plane as the flanges 34 and 42.

In the front edges of the flanges 42 of the strip 38 are formed a series of notches 50, spaced a suitable distance apart, as shown particularly in Figure 6, while in the body portion 47 of the strips 46 are formed a series of openings 51, also suitably spaced vertically in the same relation as the slots 50, so that each slot 50 and a corresponding opening 51 are in horizontal alinement.

Through the horizontal portion 32 of the top right angle section 31 are formed a series of slots 52, through which extend clips 53. Each clip 53 comprises a base 54, which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner face of said wall, and a head 55, the

length of which is longer and greater than that of the base 54, so that it projects beyond the base at each edge, particularly at the front where there is formed a projection 56. Suitable right angle shoulders 57, 58 are provided at the 'joinder of the head and base and an additional shoulder '59 is provided below the projection 56. The slots 52 are made to receive the bases 54 with the shoulders 57, 58 resting on the horizontal portion 32. Because of the shoulder 59, the projection 56 is spaced above the portion 32 for a purpose to be described later. 7 V The front frame member comprises a pair of upright channel-shaped side bars 60 connected by a plurality of division or strike bars 61. In addition to the strike bars 61, there is also provided a lower apron 62 and in some cases, as will be described. later, an upper crossbar 63, see Fig. 11. The side bar 60 comprises a right angle front portion 64 and a vertical flange 65, the parts being connected by a right angle intermediate portion 66, the outer face of which projects slightly beyond the angle portion 64.

In the intermediate portions 66 are provided several groupsof three slots, consisting of two slots 67 of the same width and a single slot 68above the slots 67 and of a greater width. Below these groups of three slots is a group of only two slots comprising a slot 68 above a slot 67, and above each group is provided asuitably located slot 68.

The strike bars 61 are channel-shaped rearwardly opening members terminating at the edges in tongues 69, see Fig. 2, which are inserted through slots 67, bent upwardly and downwardly and rigidly secured to the inner face of the side bars.

The lower apron 62, see Fig. 9, is also channelshaped and rearwardly opening comprising an upper surface 7 O and a lower surface 71, the lower surface 71 terminating in a flange 72 bent upwardly at right angles thereto. At each edge of the surfaces 7 O and 71 are formed flanges 73, 74, respectively, bent upwardly as shown in Figure 9, for a purpose to be described later.

When theupper cross bar 63 is used the top of the intermediate portion 66 of the side bars is provided with notches 75. The upper cross bar 63 is a U-shaped member, the legs 76 of which lie at the back of the portions 66 and are suitably secured thereto, while the center rests in the notches 75.

The bottom 16 is provided at each edge with downwardly extending flanges 80, 81, 82 and 83, at'right angles to the bottom and the rear corners are notched away at 84 and 85.

The top 12 is box-like in form comprising an upper plate 90, front and rear walls 91, 92 and side walls 93. The side walls 93 terminate in flanges 94, which are bent inwardly at right angles and provided with slots 95, suitably spaced for a purpose to be describedlater. The front wall 91 terminates in a flange 96, from which extends either a vertical section 97 (see Fig. 2) or a right angle section 98 (see Fig. 4). The rear wall 92 is bent inwardly and then downwardly at 99, the portion 99 being provided with slots 100.

The parts are assembled as follows: Since the strips 38, 43 and 46 each terminate above the flange 30, a distance equal to the height of the side flange of the bottom 16, the bottom plate is first placed in position on the flanges 30 of the side walls in loo the horizontally extending pockets defined by the lower ends of the strips 38, 43 and 46. The rear wall 13 is now assembled with the side walls being introduced from below until the flange 81 of the bottom 16 enters the recess 20 of the rear wall 13. The channels 22 of the rear wall and the channels 37 of the side wall interengage. The sections 40 of the strips 38 bear against the inner face of the rear wall, and the notches 26 permitting the flange 17 to pass the sections 40.

The front member 15 is assembled with the side walls. 14 from below by inserting the side bars 64 and within the guides formed by the channels 36 and 45 of the side walls, the portions 64 entering the channels 36 and the'flanges 65 entering the channels '45. The,

upward movement of the front member is checked by the engagement ofthe surface 71 of the apron 62 with the flange 80 of the bottom 16, the flange 72 at the same time means of tongues 101 on the flanges 35,-which are bent outwardly below the surface 70, so that the front member is locked in position and cannot be moved except by bending back the tongues. This form of locking means may be omitted if desired when the upper cross bar 63 is used, as pointed outhereinbelow.

If the front frame member is provided with the upper cross bar 63, a top having a right angle section 98is used which bears against the outer and lower faces of the bar 63, as shown in Fig. 12, thus holding the front member in place so that, if desired, the tongues 101 may be omitted. Screws 102, see Fig. 12, may be used to holdtthe angle section 98 against the bar 63 butit will be obvious that the top is locked to the side and rear wallsby the clips 53 and tongues 18.

As the bottom 16 is forced into position the notch 20 receives the rear flange 81 of the bottom plate, while the flange 72 slips behind the front flange of the bottom plate. The bottom plate is thus firmly held in position on the flanges 30 below the strips 38, 48 and 46, and cannot be removed.

The top 12 is now applied being placed on the section 31 with the clips 53 entering the slots 95, the sections 97 or 98 between the side bars 60 and the slots 100 of the flange 99 in front of the tongues 18. The top is then pushed backward until the tongues 18 enter the slots 100, at which time the front edges of the slots 95 bear against the shoulders 59 of the clips 53. The shoulders 50 insure a space between the projections 56 and the base 32 which the flanges 94 enter. After the top has taken this position the tongues 18 are bent downwardly to lock the top in position and the parts are fully assembled, solely by the interengagement of the various members.

In accordance with the usual construction there are provided carriers or suspensions 103 to support the drawers, not shown. These suspensions are provided with downwardly projecting tongues 104, see Fig. 3, at the front and middle and rearwardly projecting tongues 105, adjacent the inner end. The suspensions are mounted byinserting the rearwardly projecting tongues 105 into the notches 50 and dropping the downwardly projecting tongues 104 into the openings 51 and 68. The suspensions not only function to support the drawers, but they tend to stiffen the side walls 14 of the cabinet.

Ordinarily there will be provided one pair of suspensions adjacent eachstrike bar 61 and the lower apron 62. Occasions may arise, however, when it is desired to mount more than one drawer in each drawer opening in which case additional suspensions 103 can be mounted in the separate single slots 68, and the corresponding openings 51 and notches 50. I I

In view of the construction above described, it is possible to make up, bend, paint or enamel and otherwise completely finish the variousv front, side, rear top and bottom members and assemble them after the finishing operations have been completed.

lVhile only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, applicants are not limited thereto, since it is obvious that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

- aving thus set forth our invention what we claim as new and for which We desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filing cabinet comprising a plurality of assembled elements, a pair of side walls, the front edges of which are returned to provide box-like channels opening rear- 7 wardly, a strip secured to the inner face of each wall adjacent the front edge, a portion being spaced from the wall to form a channel opening toward said front channel, and a front member, the side edges of which enter said channels when the cabinetelements are assembled.

2. In a filing cabinet comprising a plurality of assembled elements, a pair of side walls the rear edges of which are returned to form vertical channels, opening forwardly, a strip secured to the inner face of each wall ad jacent said channel and surrounding onehalf of it, and a rear wall the side edges of which passbetween said channels and said strips into said channels when the cabinet elements are assembled. I

3. In a filing cabinet comprising a plural ity of assembled elements, a pair of side walls, the rear edges of which are returned to form vertical channels opening forwardly, a strip secured to the inner face of each wall adjacent said channel and surrounding one-half of it and a rear wall, the side edges of which are bent to provide vertical channels opening rearwardly, said rear wall channels passing between said side wall channels and said strips into said side wall channels when the cabinet elements are assembled.

4. In a filing cabinet comprising a plurality of assembled elements, a pair of side walls, the rear edges of which are returned to form Vertical channels opening forwardly, a strip securedto the inner face of each wall adjacent said channel and surrounding one-half of it,

and a rear Wall the side edges of which are bent to provide vertical channels opening rearwardlyysald rear wall channels passmg between said side wall channels and said strips into said side wall channels, the outer edges of said rear wall resting against the inner faces of said side walls in said channels when the cabinet elements are assembled.

5. In a filing cabinet comprising a plurality of assembled elements, a pair of side walls each having at their lower edge a flange at right angles thereto, a plurality of strips secured to the inner faces of said walls, each strip terminating a fixed distance above said flange, whereby said fiange and the ends of said strips define a horizontally extending pocket, and a bottom, the side edges of which are confined in said pockets when the cabinct elements are assembled.

6. In a filing cabinet comprising a plurality of i. mbled elements, a pair or side walls each having at their lower edge a flange at right angles thereto, a plurality of strips sccured to the inner faces of said walls, each strip terminating a fixed ance above said flange, whereby said flange and the ends of said strips define a horizontally extending pocket, and a bottom the side edges of which are provided with down rd v extending fianges at right angles thereto, said flanges being of such depth that the side edges of said bottom will enter and be confined in said pockets whenthe cabinet elements are assembled 7. In a filing cabinet comprising a plurality of assembled elements, a front member including a channel-shaped rearwardly opening apron, the lower surface of which terminates in a flange bent upwardly at right angles thereto, a rear wall, the bottom edge of which is bent inwardly and upwardly upon itself to provide a recess, a pair of side walls,

each having at its lower edge a flange at right an les hereto and means forming with said bottom provided at each edge with downwardly extending flanges, the flanged side edges of said bottom being confined in said horizontally extending pockets, the flanged rear edge of said bottom entering said recess, and the flanged front edge of said bottom resting on said lower surface in front of said up-- dly bent flange when the cabinet elements:

assembled.

S. In a filing cabinetcomprising a plurality of assembled elements, a rear wall having an upper flange bent at right angles thereto, erminating in fingers, and aboX-li'lie top the rear wall of which is bent downwardly, that portion of the wall being providedwit-h slots suitably spaced, whereby when the cabinet elements are assembled and said top is placec in position said fingers will pass through said slots to such an extentthat they can be bent downwardly to lock said top to ar wall.

cabinet comprising a pluralitv of assembled elements, a pair of side es horizontally extending pockets, and a walls, a right angle section at the top of each wall comprising a. horizontal portion and a vertical flange, each horizontal portion be ing provided with slots, and clips extending through said slots, the bases of said clips being secured to the inner faces of said walls below said horizontal portions and the heads of said clips including a projection and a plurality of shoulders whereby said projection is spaced above said horizontal portion.

10. In a filing cabinet comprising a pluraL ity of assembled elements, a pair of side walls, a right angle section at the top of each wall comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical flange, each horizontal portion being provided with slots, clips extending through said slots, the bases of said clips being secured to the inner faces of said walls below said horizontal portions and the heads of said clips including a projection and a plurality of shoulders whereby said projection is spaced above said horizontal portion, and a top having slotted side flanges which rest on said horizontal portions with said clip heads t rough said slots when the cabinet elements e assembled.

In testimony whereof we have aiiixed our signatures. V a

EARL JAMES CARD. VECTGR ADOLPH GRONBERG.

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